OUT OF MYSELF

I discovered this Polish band about three years ago thanks to PA. I went to see them playing live during a great prog conference together with "La Maschera" and "Knight Area" in 2005. What a day ! Three great bands in three different prog categories.

The absolute highlight of this album is the brilliant opening number : "The Same River". It is incredibely catchy, oppressing, repetitive. The vocals come quite late and bring some lightness in all this complexity. It is a sublime song. Guitar and keys are so pleasant, so strong. The final guitar solo is truely emotive and each time that I listen to it, I am transborded with joy.

The title track flirts with the heavy sounds (DT is not far away). Again it is very pleasant and the melody is rather pleasant. A very good song as well while "I Believe" is using a theme from "The Same River". It is almost acoustic and offers a bit of rest while listening to this album.

The second highlight is "Reality Dream, Part I". A great instrumental piece of music. Half symphonic (during the guitar solo) half metal. I have to say that I particularly like the combination. "Riverside" mixes the genres in a great and appropriate manner to ensure that the listener is never let down. This album is varied and prevents boredom.

Of course, "Loose Heart" reminds "Out Of Myself" and sounds as if this album would be a concept one, with repeated parts throughout the work. Keyboards bring some nice symphonic tone and the screaming guitar is another added value for the whole. So far, this debut album is rather convincing.

Some Floydian mood to start the second part of "Reality". Wonderful and Gilmouresque guitar work (but since the mood was Floydian, I guess that it is all but normal). Again, the song will develop on the harder edge and the same feeling than during "Part I" can be experienced. Great moment of music, no doubt.

The most emotional song is without any doubt "In Two Minds". The mood is softer. Vocals very delicate. Like "I Believe", which breaks the hard sounds from this album and bring a diversified approach. The spacey tone of "The Curtain Falls" is also a nice moment (but actually, there are so many...). It is maybe a bit too long to be fully interesting but it is fully in-line with most of the songs featured on "Out of Myself". Another pleasant track.

The jazzy mood of the closing number is not a fave of mine. Probably the weakest osng of the whole. But only one weak number is not too bad, right ?

This album is not a masterpiece, but still it is a great work. This band will certainly do great things if they build up their catalogue on this good basis. Their music is not only metal since "Riverside" combines several source of inspirations. The keys alos add such a special flavour to their music.

Four stars.